NAB board approves investigation against former PM Abbasi

The executive board of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Tuesday approved the initiation of investigation against former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi.

A press release by the probe body said that the Khaqan will be probed about his tenure as a former federal petroleum minister.

In June this year, the NAB approved initiation of an inquiry against Abbasi and former prime ministers Nawaz Sharif and over alleged misuse of power regarding a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal project, the agency said.

In a NAB executive board meeting chaired by chairman Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal, the accountability body gave a go-ahead to the probe against Nawaz, Abbasi, who served as minister for petroleum during Nawaz’s tenure before assuming charge of PM office, and others “for granting a 15-year contract of LNG terminal to a company of their liking in violation of rules and by misuse of their powers, which caused national exchequer a loss of billions of rupees".

In addition, NAB today also approved initiation of probe against former petroleum secretary Arshad Mirza, former managing director Pakistan State Oil Sheikh Imranul Haq, Deputy MD PSO Yaqub Sattar and former Bank of Punjab president Naeemuddin Khan.